ParksandGardens, Bern

With its attractive, traditional alpine setting, the Diemtigtal Nature Park offers an array of experiences. http://www.interlaken.ch/en/region-resorts-cities-area/diemtigtal-nature-park.html

Chasseral, observation deck of the Swiss Jura, has many faces. Vineyards, meadows and plateaus alternate with gorges and valleys. Its proud inhabitants are still leaders in the cutting-edge world-famous watch industry as well as cheese production. Reliable values, too. Here you can discover the true joy of life. Chasseral Nature Park is spread over a triangle between La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel and Bienne. It was named after the 1606.2 metre highest peak of the Bernese Jura. The top of the mountain is easily accessible, even with public transport. https://www.parks.swiss/en/the_swiss_parks/parkportraits/chasseral_nature_park.php

“When I was small, I thought the Château and the Collégiale were the same thing. They were so close, they seemed to be interlinked. Was it a church or a château? Most of all, it was the wonderful playground of my childhood! The years passed but the two emblematic monuments remain inseparable. http://www.neuchateltourisme.ch/en/decouvertes/town-heritage/collegiale-neuchatel.4709.html

Mulhouse zoo bring together 1200 animals and more than 3000 plants in a marvellous garden labelled since 1995. Among the 170 animal species, 90 are endangered in the wild. Mulhouse zoo takes part in around 100 international conservation programs. Since 30 years, it acts in the wild to protect the last wild lemurs, gibbons, old world monkeys, capuchins, tortoises and turtles, and so on. In Mulhouse zoo you can see polar bears swimming underwater. Asiatic lions, rarest and more endangered in the wild than African lions. Also a radiated tortoise from Madagascar - its shell looks like sun rays. You can see birds and turtles growing up in the hatchery. Beautiful and playful, the Mulhouse zoo is as instructive as fun. More than 400 000 visitors came in 2017 and the zoo is the most visited touristic site in the department and the third in Alsace… and certainly one of the more prestigious in France! http://www.zoo-mulhouse.com/en/

Standing an impressive 2,858 feet above sea level, Uetliberg Mountain offers some of the best views of Zurich and the surrounding Alps. Once at the top, travelers will find multiple trails for hiking, biking and sledding. Paragliding at the mountain's peak is another popular pastime here. Though traveling to and from this local attraction will set you back about an hour, visitors rave about Uetliberg Mountain's stunning views and superb hiking paths. For an educational twist on your average hike, take the mountain's Path of the Planets, which is designed to mimic the sizes of and distances between the solar system's planets. The trail stretches between Uetliberg and Felsenegg mountains and takes about two hours to complete. https://travel.usnews.com/Zurich_Switzerland/Things_To_Do/Uetliberg_Mountain_64027/

Whether you want to play a game of chess, relax after exploring Bahnhofstrasse or take in some superb views of Old Town, the Great Minster and the Limmat River, odds are you'll appreciate Lindenhof. What was once the location of a fourth-century fort is now an elevated park with Linden trees, benches and giant chess sets. To truly make the most of your time at Lindenhof, visitors recommend packing a picnic lunch to enjoy beneath the park's Linden trees. And remember to bring your camera since the park offers stunning city and water vistas. Keep in mind, though, that the park's elevated position means a short uphill climb is required. Once you get to the park, you'll find flat, wheelchair-friendly terrain. Lindenhof is accessible by foot and tram. The closest tram station is Rennweg, which sits a couple blocks west. Street parking is limited in Kreis 1, so walking or riding the train to Lindenhof is recommended. Although the tram system charges a small fee per ride, free public transportation is provided to Zurich Card users. Other than park benches and giant chess sets, Lindenhof does not offer any on-site facilities, but restaurants, bars and shops are a few blocks away on Bahnhofstrasse. Lindenhof is free to access 24 hours a day. https://travel.usnews.com/Zurich_Switzerland/Things_To_Do/Lindenhof_64023/

Departing from Chamonix, this famous rack and pinion railway brings you to the Montenvers site at 1913 m. An imposing panorama of the Mer de Glace glacier, the Drus and the Grands Jorasses. https://www.chamonix.com/montenvers-mer-de-glace,81,en.html

The Mont Avic natural park was established in 1989 to preserve the resources ofthe high valley of Torrente Chalamy (Champdepraz); in 2003, a part of the great valley of Dondena was also included in the protected area, reaching up as far as the mountain ridges of the Val Soana and the Valle di Cogne. http://www.lovevda.it/en/nature/mont-avic-park

A short walk from the lively center of Lugano lies the Parco Ciani, a destination for many tourists who come there to admire what is considered one of the most beautiful Swiss parks. http://www.luganoturismo.ch/en/see-do/parks/detail/id/3303/parco-ciani

Isolino Virginia is one of the oldest pile-dwelling settlements in the Alps and was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2011 as part of a serial property known as the “Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps”. The tiny islet is home to a LIPU (the Italian Society for the Protection of Birds) sanctuary that acts as a stopover for many species of migrating birds, and attracts many visitors as there is so much to see and do. As the area around Lake Varese has a long tradition of marvellous cuisine it also has many traditional restaurants and eateries serving local produce, and Isolino Virginia is no exception – a meal at the islet’s restaurant is a memorable experience. Tourists come to admire Lake Varese’s wonderful sights and culture and small boats ferry them to and from the islet from different points of the lake depending on the time of day. http://www.vareseturismo.it/en/blog/isolino-virginia

One of the public buildings in Varese that is well worth a visit is Palazzo Estense, which was the summer and autumn residence and court of Francesco III d'Este, the Duke of Modena and Lord of Varese. It was built to the designs of the architect Bianchi in the second half of the eighteenth century. The “Salone Estense” (Estense Hall) with its large fireplace made from multicoloured marble is quite stunning. Palazzo Estense is now the Town Hall. Behind the palace are the Estensi Gardens, one of the most charming public parks in Italy, which were built in the same style as the gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace, in Vienna, and finished in 1787. http://www.vareseturismo.it/en/blog/palazzo-estense-and-gardens

Lake Constance is a classic year-round European destination. Boundless, refreshing, high quality, traditional, nostalgic — all that fits us. The mobility holiday experience is truly an experience around Lake Constance: boats and ferries, cable railways and airships, buses and trains all offer a range of options to discover the area around Lake Constance from a number of different perspectives. The most beautiful connection between the German and the Swiss shore of Lake Constance is the ferry that runs between Friedrichshafen and Romanshorn. The 41-minute crossing is always a special experience: Over a­ cup­ of­ coffee­ or­ tea­ in­ the­ on-board­ bistro, the passengers can enjoy the view over the wintry lake. Furthermore, the­ “floating­ bridge”­ saves­ many­ kilometres by car around the lake and is therefore the ideal shortcut. Both Friedrichshafen and Romanshorn are the starting points for many tourist destinations. http://www.bodensee.eu/en

Culture and nature promenade across beauty, innovation and Como's treasures. A path through Villa Olmo, Villa del Grumello and Villa Sucota where art initiatives grow. A place to meet and "breathe" culture for citizens and tourists. http://www.visitcomo.eu/en/discover/parks_villas/parks/chilometro_conoscenza/index.html

The oldest of France’s national parks, the Parc national de la Vanoise was created in 1963 to protect the mountain goat. Situated in Savoy, between the Maurienne and Tarentaise Valleys, it contains almost a hundred peaks of over 3,000 metres. http://www.chambery-tourisme.com/en/the-city-and-its-environment/nature-parks/

The Vizille Estate is first and foremost a chateau that played a key role in history and a landscaped park that has been classified as a “Remarkable Garden.” But it’s also the only museum dedicated to the French Revolution that brings together so many valuable works. Set foot in this historic and natural landscape. Inside the park, you will be able to admire the tremendous ornamental lake which often served as a playground for swans, ducks, and even herons. Along the banks, you will discover the French-style gardens and magnificent rose gardens. An animal park is a home to stags, deer, and roes roaming together more or less freely. With 100 hectares of protected natural landscapes, the gardens of the Vizille Estate bring together human history and wild nature. It is, for sure, the ideal place to play, stroll, and dream. https://www.grenoble-tourisme.com/en/discover/essentials/domaine-de-vizille/

Influenced by the style of an English garden Le Parc de la Tete d’Or is the largest urban park in France and contains numerous attractions for all the family including a zoo, boating lake, botanical gardens, miniature railway, pony rides for children and more.It’s an excellent place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty and includes dozens of trails for walking, jogging or bicycling and large open spaces for activities and picnics.Created in 1857 by the brothers Denis and Eugène Buhler in the same year as New York’s famous Central Park, Le Parc de la Tete d’Or has seen numerous additions since it’s initial creation, including in 1865 the impressive glass houses containing species of plants and flowers from all over the world and in the 1960’s the inclusion of the rose gardens featuring 30,000 rose bushes comprising 350 different varieties.The name of the park originates from a legend that says treasure with the “head of Christ” could be buried somewhere in the park.France’s second public zoo after the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris contains almost 400 different animals divided into 64 different species.The last 10 years have seen improvements to the zoo’s infrastructure including in 2006 the new African Savannah featuring zebra, giraffes and pink flamingos. The zoo is a member of EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is dedicated to the preservation of species threatened by extinction. https://thisislyon.fr/things-to-do/sports-and-recreation/parks-and-recreation/parc-de-la-tete-dor/

Le Jardin Rosa Mir, or the Rosa Mir Garden, located in the heart of Croix-Rousse in Lyon’s 4th arrondissement, is one of Lyon’s unique treasures, founded in the dreams of a self-taught artist. The Rosa Mir Garden is a small, originally private garden located in the courtyard of an apartment building. Created between the years of 1957 and 1977, the garden is a tribute to the creativity and artistic vision of its creator, a Spanish mason called Jules Senis Mir. Made up of pillars, basins, obelisks and pergolas sculpted from pebbles and shells, the monument pulls its inspiration from Arab-Andalusian motifs and styles. It is filled with over 10,000 plants, from cacti to perennials to roses to oregano and lemon. https://thisislyon.fr/things-to-do/historical-monuments/jardin-rosa-mir/

The botanical gardens contain over 20 special species of trees from a variety of continents, conservatories containing cacti and numerous greenhouses with tropical plants. https://www.karlsruhe-tourismus.de/en/Media/Attraktionen/Botanical-Gardens

Stuttgart's Palace Square is the vibrant heart of the city, but at the same time it's a place to linger, within easy walking distance of many of the city's attractions. Palace Square is therefore Stuttgart's hub and an integral part of any stroll through town. In 2006 pictures of Palace Square went round the world, when 60 000 fans turned it into a sea of black, red and gold flags at the public screenings during the football World Cup. https://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/en/a-schlossplatz-stuttgart-palace-square

Without doubt, the most popular landmark for all Mannheimers is the water tower "Wasserturm". No wonder it serves as the backdrop to so many wedding and holiday photos. Romantic and dreamy, it stands in one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau sites in Europe. Its fountains, promenades and arcades are a popular meeting place for locals and visitors alike. You get the best view of the water tower from one of the surrounding cafés on the Friedrichsplatz. Sitting under the arcades sipping a cup of coffee is guaranteed to give you a Mediterranean feeling. On summer evenings, you can marvel at the water fountain choreography. In the winter, the Christmas market around the Wasserturm is worth a visit too. https://www.visit-mannheim.de/en/Media/attractions/water-tower

The Luisenpark is divided in an upper and a lower part. The lower Luisenpark is the oldest part of the park, and entry is free. The upper Luisenpark charges an admission fee, but it also has a lot more to offer. Drift lazily in gondolettas on the Kutzerweiher lake, climb over the stones in the mountain stream and experience a real Chinese tea ceremony. In the conservatory, you can discover not only tropical plants but also hundreds of species of colourful butterflies as well as fish, monkeys, crocodiles and many other exotic animals. Outside you will find cows, sheep, guinea pigs, storks, flamingos and more. The daily feeding of the penguins is quite the spectacle. Don't miss it! The park has many different playgrounds. Climbing, swinging, sliding, digging, and trampoline jumping — kids will love it! Parents can lounge on the free-to-use deck chairs. There are various restaurants, cafés, and kiosks in the park, but you can also bring your own food and beverages. https://www.visit-mannheim.de/en/Media/attractions/luisenpark

The mountain at the heart of Innsbruck. The Nordkette is part of Austria’s largest nature park, the Karwendel Nature Park, and can be reached directly from Innsbruck city centre in just a few minutes! The breathtaking 360° view leaves a lasting impression, with the capital of the Alps on one side and Tyrol’s most extensive conservation area on the other. The Hungerburg funicular enables visitors to reach the Hungerburg in just 8 minutes. There are several stops along the way including the Alpine Zoo, which is a favorite among families. After reaching the Hungerburg station, a short walk across Hermann Buhl Square, named after the world-famous Austrian mountaineer, leads visitors to the cable car station. The Hafelekar Run is one of the steepest ski runs in Europe. With an incline of 70%, this ski run is reserved for extremely good riders. When the powder is at its best, it is more likely for some locals to be at the Hafelekar than at the workplace. The run for all those who like the extreme! The location of the Nordkette Single Trail in high-alpine terrain directly above the rooftops of Innsbruck, make it unique worldwide. Riders experience an interplay of steep curves, rock jumps and root passages integrated with northshores and drops. It takes about 20 minutes to get from the Seegrube Station to the Nordkette Climbing Arena. There are approximately 40 tours which are mainly single-rope routes at the UIAA difficulty levels 4 – 9, which means they are suitable for both beginner and advanced-level climbers. Also experience the Innsbruck Fixed Rope Climbing Route.The best of the best have climbed on these rocks including mountain legend Hermann Buhl and also Hannes Gasser, who this route is named after. Climb in the footsteps of these climbing greats and experience unique mountain adventure. https://nordkette.com/en/

A mighty brown bear roams around its enclosure. A few paces away, otters swim and splash nimbly through the water and a bearded vulture looks down at visitors from high up in a tree. Food? No, don’t worry. It’s well fed and has found a safe haven in the Alpine Zoo. For the animals of the Alps are no less endangered than species from the savanna, jungle and desert. The Alpine Zoo does a great deal for the conservation of biodiversity, providing a home for animals native to the mountains, such as birds of prey, chamois and marmots. Visitors can observe these animals up close – a highlight for the entire family and also well worth a visit for adults! When the church bells ring in Innsbruck, the wolves at the Alpine Zoo howl along in unison. The graceful lynx remain calm in comparison but become louder to mark their territory during the mating season in February. Their neighbour, the golden eagle, shows no interest at all. Did you know that this species was nearly wiped out in the 19th century? A fate it shares with other animals at the zoo, such as brown bears, wolves and bearded vultures. Some species have now recovered thanks to breeding programmes and reintroduction into the wild, which has included animals from the Alpine Zoo. https://www.innsbruck.info/en/sightseeing/highlights/alpine-zoo.html

The Parks of Nervi are an important historical/nature complex formed from the combination of several gardens that once belonged to private villas: Villa Gropallo, Villa Saluzzo Serra, and Villa Grimaldi Fassio. Today, these villas belong to the City of Genoa and have been transformed into museums. http://www.visitgenoa.it/en/parchi-di-nervi-gropallo-serra-grimaldi-and-luxoro-villas

The Rhine Promenade is a historic park from the 1920s. Because of its attractive location and its clear, classical design, it is regarded as one of the most important representative green spaces in the city of Worms. https://www.worms.de/en/tourismus/sehenswertes/listen/rheinpromenade.php

The Municipal Park, an English park laid out by landscape engineer Edouard André on the old fortified grounds at the front of the plain, is a real island of green in the heart of the city. Green spaces such as the Kinnékswiss in the city centre are the ideal place to recharge your batteries. http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/parkgarden/edouard-andre-municipal-park

At Olympiaberg in Munich, every skier can find just the right slope. The highest hill in the city offers a variety of options for descending: gently descending slopes for everyone who wants to learn to ski and bobsled, and steep descents for those who like to fly across the snow. The Olympic Park in northern Munich is well known beyond the borders of the capital city. The unique tent architecture of the buildings and the Olympic Tower are some of Munich’s well known landmarks. After the Olympic Games in 1972, a 300-hectare-sized park was developed into a recreation center for the entire city. Joggers, cyclists, and walkers take their laps here, and swimmers do lengths in the Olympic swimming facility. At over 50 meters (150 feet) high, the Olympic Hill towers over the park grounds and is an ideal spot to enjoy a view of the roofs of Munich and to the mountains beyond. http://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights/parks/olympic-park.html

Where is the castle (or “Burg”) in Rothenburg ob der Tauber? You often hear this question and just as often get disappointed faces in return. Because there hasn’t been a castle in Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a long time – the former Stauferburg was destroyed. However, the disappointment soon vanishes, because in the castle’s location is Rothenburg’s green oasis, the Castle Garden. What’s so special about the Castle Garden? And where in the Castle Garden do you get the best views? We explain why it’s worthwhile to spend some time in Rothenburg’s Castle Garden. https://www.rothenburg-tourismus.de/en/discover/the-highlights-of-rothenburg-ob-der-tauber-top10-sights/a-park-for-taking-a-break-rothenburgs-castle-garden/

"The Englische Garten (“English Garden”) is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The layout has undergone constant change throughout the centuries as new buildings and green spaces were added time and again. https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights/parks/english-garden.html

Those who take a stroll through the gardens will be able to discover all the essential components of a Japanese garden: a pond, islands, a waterfall, lanterns, bridges, a tea house and a Zen garden. This green oasis is a rich mix of Japanese tradition and Mediterranean touches, the result of close collaboration between gardeners from Monaco and Japan. The bamboo hedges, tiles (Awaji Island), stone lanterns, and the woods used in the various structures (gate, tea house, etc.) were all imported from Japan, while the plants, all Mediterranean (pine, olive and pomegranate trees), were pruned and looked after by Mr Beppu for three years to give them a Japanese appearance. https://www.visitmonaco.com/us/place/the-gardens/95/the-japanese-garden

Spread over an area of approximately 15,000 m2, the Exotic Garden is home to a thousand cacti and other succulent plants with stems or hypertrophic leaves which store water. Originally from the planet’s main semi-arid regions, these plants still produce plenty of flowers. The principal flowering seasons are winter (January–February) for South African succulents such as Aloe and Crassula, and spring and summer for cacti, a family native to the American continent. The enormous trees which line the paths of the Exotic Garden illustrate the age of the collection which served as the basis for the creation of the garden at the instigation of Prince Albert I. Opened to the public in February 1933, and supplemented in the 1960s by a botanical centre and specialist tree nursery, the garden is one of the Principalities most visited tourist attractions. At the base of the cliff on which the Exotic Garden is situated (called “the observatory” due to the long-standing presence of a small astronomical observatory), at an altitude of 100 metres, there is a subterranean chamber equipped to receive visitors. The limestone rock, carved out by water containing carbon dioxide, is studded with caverns adorned with geological formations bearing evocative names: stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, columns, soda straws... Expert guided tours of the cave are included in the entry ticket for the Exotic Garden. The tour travels from a depth of 98 metres to a depth of 40 metres (around 300 steps). The chamber plunges down almost to sea level and is regularly explored by local cavers. The presence of prehistoric humans in the region of the cave is confirmed by the bones of the animals that they ate. These remains also illustrate the climate variations that have taken place over the last 250,000 years. http://www.visitmonaco.com/en/Places-to-visit/Gardens/The-Exotic-Gardens-and-the-Observation-Cave

Fontvieille Park encircles the Big Top, providing the district with an urban landscaped park that is much appreciated by families. It features Mediterranean plants such as olive, pine and cypress trees alongside more exotic species like Strelitzias, Stenocarpus and Araucarias. https://www.visitmonaco.com/us/place/the-gardens/181/fontvieille-park

The city’s original site, the Castle Hill (Parc De La Colline Du Chateau) once boasted a reputedly impregnable citadel that was entirely dismantled by the soldiers of the French King Louis XIV in 1706. Truly a maze of greenery that has become popular for its cool undergrowth and surprising waterfall, this wonderful place for strolling offers a wonderful viewpoint over Baie des Anges, Old Nice and the Port (orientation table). Spectacular lighting at night. http://en.nicetourisme.com/nice/92-parc-de-la-colline-du-chateau